Automatic creaser and slitter positioning means



AUTOMATIC CREASER AND SLITTER POSITIONING MEANS Filed June 14, 1966 July 22, 1969 FLAUM ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 "lll July 22, 1969 FLAUM ETAL 3,456,565

AUTOMATIC CREASER AND SLITTER POSITIONING MEANS Filed June 14, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zia July 22, 1969 FLAUM ET AL 3,456,565

AUTOMATIC CREASER AND SLITTER POSITIONING MEANS 4 Sheets-Shea Filed June 14, 1966 July 22, 1969 M, FLAUM ETAL 3,456,565

AUTOMATIC CREASER AND SLIT'IER POSITIONING MEANS Filed June 14, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet A.

.IJ: C515...

INVENTORS United States Patent 3,456,565 AUTONLATIC CREASER AND SLITTER POSITIONING MEANS Mitchel Flaum, Scarsdale, and Gunther Weiskopf, New

York, N.Y., assignors to S & S Corrugated Paper Machinery Company, Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Filed Hum 14, 1966, Ser. No. 557,475 Int. Cl. B311) 1/18 US. Cl. 93-582 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A duplex slitter for longitudinally slitting a travelling Web of sheet material is provided with power adjusting means for positioning the set of converting heads when they are not being used to slit a travelling web. Individual power adjusting means are provided for each set of converting heads and the adjusting means is disengaged from its associated set of converting heads when such set of heads is in position to operate upon a travelling web.

This invention relates to cutting and creasing apparatus used extensively in the corrugated board industry and in particular relates to apparatus of this type having novel power operated means for adjusting one set of converting heads while another set of converting heads is operating on web material passing through the apparatus.

In slitting, scoring and folding machines of the type illustrated in the L. W. Roselius US. Patent No. 2,664,035 issued Dec. 29, 1953 and in machines for the production of paper board as illustrated in the W. J. Goettsch US. Patent 2,309,728 issued Feb. 2, 1943, so-called duplex and triplex slitter, scorers are shown. A slitter-scorer is a device which usually operates on a web of corrugated board as the web leaves the double backer and operates to trim the edges of the web as well as to slit the web into a plurality of strips and also creases the strips to form flap defining score lines.

The so-called duplex slitter-scorer is provided with two sections each having a plurality of slitting and scoring heads. When the heads of one section are in engagement with the web the heads of the other section are remote from the web and may be adjusted at that time for the next run.

In the prior art the adjustment of the slitting, scoring heads was a slow and often dangerous process in that the operator was required to move under the moving web in order to make adjustments and the heads could only be adjusted one at a time.

In order to overcome these disadvantages of prior art slitter scorers the instant invention provides power operated means for adjusting the positions of the slitting and scoring heads in that section of the slitter-scorer which is not operating on the web. This is accomplished by utilizing power adjusting means, say of the lead screw type illustrated in the A. F. Shields US. Patent 2,982,189 issued May 2, 1961, and arranging the adjusting means in such manner that the cutting and creasing heads are in engagement with the adjusting means only when the heads are remote from engagement with the web.

A separate power adjusting means is provided for each section of the slitter-scorer. When a section of the slitterscorer is in engagement with the web, the adjusting means for this section is remote therefrom. However, as soon as the other section is brought into engagement with the web the first section moves away from the web into engagement with its adjusting means. Means are provided for maintaining the cutting and creasing heads in their adjusted transverse positions when the heads of a particular section are disengaged from the adjusting means for the section.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide a novel'multiple section slitter-scorer.

Another object is to provide a novel construction for a multiple section slitter-scorer having power means for adjusting the heads.

Still another object is to provide a novel slitter-scorer of this type in which each of the sections is provided with more than one set of shafts for the converting heads.

A further object is to provide a novel slitter-scorer of this type in which a rack and pinion means is utilized for moving the heads into and out of engagement with the web material.

A still further object is to provide a novel slitter-scorer of this type in which the converting heads are in engagement with their adjusting means only when these heads are remote from engagement with the web.

These as well as other objects of this invention will become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a slitter-scorer constructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention with certain normally hidden elements indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 with certain other normally hidden elements indicated in dotted lines. In FIGURE 2 one set of converting heads is in operating position while in FIGURE 1 the other set of converting heads is in operating position.

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross section taken through line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of arrows 33.

FIGURE 4 is a partial front elevation of the device illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3 looking in the directions of arrows 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross section illustrating fluid operated means for releasably maintaining the cutting heads in their operative positions.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the instant invention.

Now referring to the figures and more particularly to FIGURES 1 through 4. Slitter-scorer 10" is adapted to operate upon web material moving in the direction of arrow A (FIGURE 2.) along feed path F partially defined by guide member 11 and the upper run of conveyor belt 12. Feed path F extends between converting heads 13a, 13b. The term converting head is used herein as a generic term to designate either a cutting or creasing head when the slitter-scorer operates on web material. It is to be understood that the term converting head also covers slotting and crushing heads when the slitterscorer operates on sheet material.

Opposed cooperating converting heads 13a, 13b are keyed to parallel sha'fts 14, 15 respectively, extending transversely with respect to feed path F. The ends of shafts 14, 15 are rotatably mounted to one of the legs 16a, 16b of auxiliary frame members 17a, 17b, respectively. Auxiliary frame members 17a, 17b are keyed to transverse rocker shaft 18 whose ends are pivotally mounted to the stationary frame members 19, 20 positioned on opposite sides of feed path P, outboard of auxiliary frame members 17a, 1711, respectively.

Crank arm 21 is keyed to one end of rocker shaft 18 while the other end of crank arm 21 is pivotally connected at 22 to the upper end of arm 23 extending upwardly from double acting air cylinder 24. When the air cylinder arm 23 is retracted as in FIGURE 1, opposed cooperating converting heads 33:: and 3312 (FIGURE 2) mounted to parallel shafts 34, 35 extending between the other sections 36a, 36b of auxiliary frame members 17a, 17b straddle feed path F from below and above.

When arm 23 is extended by upward movement, crank 3 23 pivots in a clockwise direction with respect to FIGURE 1 to the position shown in phantom thereby pivoting shaft 18 in a clockwise direction and moving auxiliary frame members 17a, 17b from the position of FIGURE 1 to that of FIGURE 2. Now connecting heads 13a, 13b are in their operating positions shown in FIGURE 2.

Rotative power for the converting head shafts 14, 15, 34, 35 is obtained from main shaft 40 extending parallel to feed path P. Sprocket 41 (FIGURE 4) keyed to shaft 40 drives endless chain 42 in engagement with sprocket 43 keyed to shaft 44 carrying beveled gear 45 in mesh with beveled gear 46. The latter gear 46 is keyed to stationary shaft 47 extending through main frame member 20 and having spur gear 48 keyed thereto. With auxiliary frame means 17a, 17b in its counterclockwise position of FIG- URE 1, spur gear 49 carried by auxiliary frame member 17b is in mesh with spur gear 48. Gear 97, keyed to the same shaft as gear 49, directly drives gear 94 keyed to shaft 35.

Another set of gears 49a, 94a, 95a, 96a, 97a corresponding to gears 49, 94, 95, 96, 97, respectively, is mounted to movable auxiliary frame 17b. Gears 94a, 95a are keyed to converting head shafts 14, 15, respectively. Thus, when auxiliary frame means 17a, 17b is in its clockwise position of FIGURE 2, spur gear 49a meshes with spur gear 48 for driving shafts 14, 15 with the same type of driving connections as existed between spur gear 49 and shafts 34, 35.

With auxiliary frame means 17a, 17b in its counterclockwise position of FIGURE 1, the converting heads on shafts 14, 15 are engaged by power adjusting means operable to move these converting heads to selected transverse positions along their respective shafts. More particularly, converting head 13a keyed to shaft 14 is provided with annular depression 57 (FIGURE 4) which receives one of the curved boundary portions of upwardly extending finger 58 secured to carrier 59. The latter is slidably mounted to two of the guide shafts 67 so as to be movable along the length thereof and is also provided with a nut portion 61 threadably engaged with one of the lead screws 62. Each of the screws 62 is driven on command by one of the motors 63 connected thereto.

In a manner well known to the art, as lead screw 62 rotates, nut 61 moves along the axis of screw 62 thereby moving carrier 59 transversely with respect to feed path F. This in turn moves converting head 13a transverse to feed path F. Similar adjusting motors, lead screws and nut means are provided for each of the other converting heads mounted to shafts 14, 15. In a similar manner, when auxiliary frame means 17a, 17b is in its clockwise position of FIGURE 2 the converting heads mounted to shafts 34, 35 are engaged by the adjusting means carriers at the right with respect to FIGURES 1 and 2.

In order to prevent transverse movement of the converting heads while they are operating on the web material, key 71 (FIGURE is moved to locking position. That is, shaft 14 is provided with longitudinal slot 72 into which key 71 extends. After all of the converting heads on shaft 14 are moved to their selective positions, fluid under pressure is introduced into bladder 73 positioned by retaining channel 74 within slot 72. As bladder 73 expands it forces driver 75 to the phantomed position against key 71 driving the latter radially outward into locking engagement with converting head 13b. When pressure within bladder 73 the latter, being self biased, resumes its unstressed shape and backs away from key 71 thereby permitting transverse movement of converting head 13a with respect to shaft 15. Locking key means of the type illustrated in FIGURE 5 are well known to mechanical arts so that a more detailed description thereof will not be undertaken, it being suflicient to note that fluid under pressure is supplied to bladder 73 through a central passage extending to one end of shaft 14 and capped by a rotating fluid seal.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1 through 4 all of the converting 'heads operating on the web at any given time were mounted to a single set of two shafts. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG- URE 6 the converting heads operating on web W are mounted on two sets of shafts. That is, converting heads 101, 102 operating on web W are mounted to shafts 103, 104, respectively, while shafts 105, 106 mount converting heads 107, 108, respectively, also operating on web W. Shafts 103, 104 are mounted to auxiliary frame member 111 which is pivotally mounted at 114 to stationary frame-112. Similarly, shafts 105, 106 are mounted to auxiliary frame member 115 which is pivotally mounted at 116 to stationary frame 112. Auxiliary frame members 111, 115 also carry gears 109, 110, respectively, in engagement with driving gear 120, as in FIGURE 6, when auxiliary frame members 111, 115 are in the operating position. Gear 120 is mounted to a shaft, on stationary frame 112, to which driving power is applied. Gear 109 drives a gear (not shown) keyed to shaft 103 which in turn drives shaft 104 by means of an additional gear (not shown). In a similar manner gear 110' drives shaft 106 which in turn drives shaft 105. Fixedly secured to auxiliary frame members 111, 115 are gear segments 123 and 124, respectively, formed concentric with shafts 114, 116, respectively. The teeth of gear segments 123 and 124 are in engagement with the teeth on opposite surfaces of rack 125 extending upwardly from double-acting cylinder 126.

When rack 125 is moved downward, with respect to the position shown in FIGURE 6, auxiliary frame members 111, 115 pivot in opposite directions about shafts 114, 116, as indicated by arrows C and D, to raised positions wherein the converting heads on shafts 102, 103 are in engagement with power adjusting means 127 and the converting heads on shafts 105, 106 are in engagement with power adjusting means 128. Each of the adjusting means 127, 128 is of the same construction as the power adjusting means described in connection with the embodiments of FIGURES 1 through 5 so that no further description will be given herein.

As auxiliary frame members 111, 115 are operated to their raised positions rack 125, in engagement with gear segments 133, 134, pivots auxiliary frame members 135, 136 in opposite direction as indicated by the respective arrows H, G to vertical positions wherein gears 137, 138 engage driving gear 120. Now the converting heads on shafts 141, 142 of member and the converting heads on shafts 143, 144 of member 136 are in operating position with respect to the feed path along which web W travels. At this time driving power for the converting heads is transmitted from gear 120 through gears 137, 138 and those gears (not shown) keyed to shafts 141 through 144.

With rack 125 in the raised position shown in FIGURE 6 the converting heads on shafts 141, 142 are engaged by power adjusting means and the converting heads on shafts 143, 144 are engaged by power adjusting means 146.

Since basic details of construction for the instant invention have been described in connection with FIGURES 1 through 5, the embodiment of FIGURE 6 is highly schematic. It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that interference between the elements of FIGURE 6 in their operating positions is avoided by placing these elements in appropriately spaced planes.

While the power adjusting means hereinbefore described consists of an individual lead screw driven by an individual motor for each of the converting heads, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that a single lead screw may be utilized in conjunction with a plurality of rotatable nuts each mounted to its respective carrier with an individual motor on such carrier provided for operation of the nut mounted to such carrier.

Thus, it is seen that the instant invention provides a novel slitter-scorer having power adjusting means whereby the set of converting heads not operating on the web may be quickly adjusted to position for the next run.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

1. The combination comprising converting apparatus and means for guiding material along a feed path extending through said apparatus; said apparatus including a main frame means, an auxiliary frame means movably mounted to said main frame means, a first and a second converting section mounted to said auxiliary frame means and movable therewith, indexing means for operating said auxiliary frame means between a first and a second position relative to said main frame means; said first and said second converting sections including a first and a second plurality of converting heads, respectively; when said auxiliary frame means is in said second position at least some of the heads of said first converting section positioned to operate on material moving along said feed path and said second plurality of converting heads positioned remote from material moving along said feed path; when said auxiliary frame means is in said first position at least some of the heads of said second converting means positioned to operate on material moving along said feed path and said second plurality of converting heads positioned remote from material moving along said feed path; power operated first means operable to move said first plurality of converting heads to selected positions across said feed path when said auxiliary frame means is in said first position; power operated second means operable to move said second plurality of converting heads to selected positions across said feed path when said auxiliary frame means is in said second position.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the power operated first means is positioned remote from the first plurality of converting heads when said auxiliary frame means is in said second position, said power operated second means is positioned remote from the second plurality of converting heads when said auxiliary frame means is in said first position.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which the power operated first and the second means each comprises a plurality of individually operable power operated devices.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which the power operated first and the second means each includes screw means extending transverse to said feed path and a nut means threadably mounted to said screw means; one of said screw means and said nut means being rotatable while' the other is restrained against rotation whereby said nut means is movable with respect to the longitudinal axis of said nut means.

5. The combination of claim 3 in which there is a first and a second releasable means for backing the respective first and second plurality of converting heads against movement transverse to said feed path.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which there is a power means for operating said first plurality of converting heads when said auxiliary frame means is in said second position and operating said second plurality of converting heads when said auxiliary frame means is in said first position.

7. The combination of claim 5 in which said auxiliary frame means includes a first, a second, a third and a fourth section each separately connected to said main frame means; some heads of said first plurality of converting heads mounted to said first section and others of these heads mounted to said second section; some heads of said second plurality of converting heads mounted to said third section and others of these heads mounted to said fourth section.

8. The combination of claim 5 in which the indexing means includes a driving means, an arm reciprocated by said driving means, first rack means on one side of said arm and second rack means on another side of said arm; first, second, third and fourth pivotally mounted gears secured to said first, second, third and fourth sections, respectively; both said first and said third gears in mesh with said first rack means and both said second and said fourth rack means in engagement with said second rack means; said rack means, said gears, and said sections related in a manner such that movement of said arm in one direction causes said first and second sections to pivot toward one another and said third and fourth sections to pivot away from one another While movement of the arm in the opposite direction causes said first and second sections to pivot away from one another and said third and fourth section to pivot toward one another.

9. The combination of claim 5 in which the auxiliary frame means is pivotally mounted with respect to said main frame means.

10. The combination of claim 9 in which the indexing means includes a crank connected to said auxiliary frame means, and driving means for operating said crank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,746,284 2/1930 Robinson 93-58.2 2,942,534 6/1960 Boddy 9358.2 2,982,189 5/1961 Shields 9349 2,985,223 5/1961 Thorn 9358.2 X 3,003,403 10/1961 Goettsch 93-58.2 3,031,937 5/1962 Greenwood 9358.2 3,059,552 10/1962 Easter 93-58.2 3,093,037 6/1963 Ward 93--58.2 3,332,326 7/1967 Haas 93-58.2

WAYNE A. MORSE, 1a., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 83-11, 12; 931 

